Schnyder into Quarter-Finals at Dubai Tennis Championships

Dubai, UAE, February 21st, 2007: Swiss left-hander Patty Schnyder overcame Australia’s Alicia Molik on Wednesday, taking over two hours to earn a 4-6 6-2 6-4 victory.

Sixth-seeded Schnyder has struggled of late, and in the first set against Molik sometimes hovered on the brink of self-destruction. She made a succession of careless errors, and at one stage hit three consecutive double-faults.

Three early breaks eventually led to Molik leading 5-2 and, although she failed to serve out the set at 5-3, the Swiss netted the ball to drop her serve again at 5-4.

Schnyder began to turn the match around in the second set after receiving a warning for breaking her racquet in frustration at 2-2. Two points later, she forced a backhand volley error from Molik to break for 3-2, broke again to lead 5-2, and then held off three break points as she served out for the set.

An early break for 2-1 then gave Schnyder an advantage in the final set, but she struggled to serve out for the match at 5-4. Holding off three break points, a relieved Schnyder finally claimed victory on her fifth match point.

Eighth seeded Slovak Daniela Hantuchova was also involved in a battle for survival against Russia’s Maria Kirilenko, eventually claiming a 2-6 6-4 7-6(4) win in a draining two hours 18-minutes.

“I was really pleased the way I just kept fighting for every point because it was not easy,” said Hantuchova. “I wasn’t playing my best, especially in the first set, but I just tried to turn it around and find my rhythm on the shots. The one thing that got me through was my belief.

“We were both playing great at some stages and then playing horrible, but I was expecting it was going to be like that because Maria also goes for her shots and we both like to hit a lot of winners.”

The Dubai Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and takes place under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Play in the WTA Tour event takes place at the Dubai Tennis Stadium from 19th to 24th February, and continues from 26th February to 3rd March with the ATP event featuring Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Marcos Baghdatis.

For further information: John Rynehart, Promoseven Sports Marketing,
(T) +9714 3210008; (M) +971 50 55 96795; john.rynehart@promoseven.com